When people talk about the Louvre Pyramid, we think of the transparent architecture in the main courtyard, but there are actually five pyramids throughout the museum. This masterpiece - the world's largest art museum and a historic monument in Paris that attracts millions of people every year was designed by Chinese American architect I.M. Pei.
The main pyramid is accompanied by three smaller ones. They have been positioned to create light shafts for access to the museum’s collections.
The inverted pyramid is the one visible from underground, when you use the Carrousel entrance to the Louvre. Designed to be an upside down, suspended pyramid.
The glass panes of the pyramids are made up of diamonds and triangles. This mixture creates the triangular form in irregular proportions, which creates the appearance of cut jewels.
Although there are more than 380,000 pieces of art housed at the Louvre, “only” approximately 35,000 are on display.
The collection is divided among eight curatorial departments: Near Eastern Antiquities, Greek, Etruscan, and Roman Antiquities, Egyptian Antiquities, Paintings, Prints and Drawings, Decorative Arts, Sculptures, and Islamic Art.
